Kapurthala

Kapurthala’s history is closely tied to the rise of the Ahluwalia Sikh rulers and the story of the Kapurthala princely state. The region around present-day Kapurthala was part of the wider Punjab plains, ruled at different times by local Rajput chiefs and later Mughal-Afghan officers. In the 18th century, as Mughal power declined, Sikh misls began asserting control. Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, a leading Sikh warrior and head of the Ahluwalia misl, captured this area from Afghan forces and made Kapurthala an important centre of his power.

Under his successors, the misl evolved into the princely state of Kapurthala, recognised by the British in the 19th century. The Ahluwalia rulers allied with the British during key campaigns, which helped the state retain considerable autonomy. The most famous modern ruler, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh (late 19th–early 20th century), travelled widely in Europe and the Middle East and tried to turn Kapurthala into a “modern” model state. He built striking buildings in Indo-French and Indo-Saracenic styles, including palaces and the Moorish-style mosque, which still give the town its unique architectural character.

After Independence in 1947, Kapurthala State acceded to India and was merged into the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), and later into the reorganised state of Punjab. Today, Kapurthala is a district headquarters known for its princely heritage, distinctive architecture and contribution to Sikh and Punjabi history.